TITLE: Drawn Together
CHARACTERS: Kate and Sawyer
RATED: PG-13 for now... (language, somewhat specific details)
EPISODES: After "Outlaws"
STATUS: Chapter four of -?
BETA READER: Harlequin
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of LOST's characters. That privilige is entirely ABC's. (dangit! jk.)

Chapter 4

Sawyer pushed his way through the numerous weeds and overgrowth. He grew increasingly frustrated. Panting, he had still seen no sight of Kate, nor found any tracks of her. Not that he could track her, and that was well determined with his failure in tracking his boar.
He didn't realize he had gone so far into the jungle until he realized he had no clue where he was. He stopped for a few minutes and leaned his arm on a tree, running a sweaty hand through his already soaked hair. Still catching his breath, he quieted suddenly, feeling sure he was not alone. He couldn't explain it, but he felt that someone was there.
He turned around and glanced around him. Nothing was moving, and he didn't see anything. Despite what he could see, or rather couldn't see, he reached in his back pocket and grabbed for the gun again.

"Put it away, Sawyer," Kate said, appearing behind him.

He jumped, then felt a flood of relief that it was her voice. He pulled his hand away from the gun and stared at her, feeling slightly amused.

"Following me now, Freckles?"

"Well as you said, it's not safe to be alone," she said, unable to resist smiling as she mocked him.

"Oh hardy har har."

"So what were you looking for me for?"

"What makes you think I was lookin' for you, princess?"

"I heard you talking with Charlie."

"So we're an eavesdropper now, are we, Freckles?" he said, playfully.

"I'm not an eavesdropper!"

She saw he was grinning at her, amused at how defensive she became. She didn't buy into the bait and decided to try again.

"Okay, so what were you looking for me for?"

His face grew serious and she knew she'd got him. This oughta be good, she thought to herself. She folded her arms as she awaited an answer, and he just stared at her.

"Nothin'," he said looking away. He started walking again.

"Sawyer," she followed him.

"What?" he stopped and turned to face her. "I said it was nothin'!"

"You've been out here almost all day, it's got to be something."

"Yeah, well, I forgot," he started walking again.

"I highly doubt that," she said, still standing in the same spot.

"You know, what is it with you, Freckles?" He turned to her again. "All day long with you! Don't you ever shut up?"

She looked at him, hurt, her eyes full of lost hope. She looked down, blinking several times. Instantly Sawyer knew he shouldn't have said that. He may have been thinking it, but he knew he shouldn't have said it. And now it'd cost him again. When she looked up again, he could tell she wanted to cry but was impressed with her ability to hold back.

"Kate, I - "

"Well I'd hate to break it to you, Sawyer, but I am a girl. And talking is what we do," she retorted.

"Ain't THAT the truth.." he muttered.

She was a clever one, he decided. But he still knew that she was only covering up her hurt feelings.

"Excuse me?"

"What?"

"You just agreed with me, didn't you?"

"I did not!"

"Yes, you did!"

"Fine. I did agree with you! Girls DO talk a lot! Just didn't 'spect you to be one of 'em."

She laughed, and he saw the hurt in her eyes go away and they brightened up. They were eyes he could look into forever. He knew if he stayed any longer, he would be snared into the trap of her eyes. And that was something he really should avoid. But something prevented him from moving. He couldn't leave.

"What, I'm not allowed to say how I feel?"

"Okay, but wasn't that just a bit harsh?" she folded her arms, but by the grin she beared, he knew she was joking around.

"Sweetheart, harsh to me and you are two completely different things."

"Well you don't have to tell ME that."

"Can I go now?"

"I never said you had to stay," she shrugged, cautiously taking s few steps toward him.

He didn't know how to answer that, because she was right.

"And yet you're still standing right here in front of me..." she raised her eyebrows, and poked his chest with her index finger.

What he did next, took her by complete surprise...